Name of Green Space

Green Flag Award 2014/2015

Name of Site – Lepe Country Park Managing Organisation – Hampshire County Council

Bandscores

Desk 0-9 10-14 15-19 20-24 25-30 Assessment Field 20-29 30-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-70 Assessment Overall 30-44 45-54 55-59 60-65 66-69 70-74 75-79 80+ score

Status – PASS Overall band score – 75-79

Desk Assessment Feedback Band score – 20 -24

Criteria Strengths Recommendations

Presentation Concise document with good illustrations and It would be helpful to have an appendices. action plan update sheet with the management plan. The Useful information for judges at front of plan a plan being near the end of its welcome addition. current incarnation, it is hard to define which actions have Good to see the additional information on been completed and which sustainability. have not.

Health, Safety Include example risk & Security Detailed in objective 11. assessment or safe working practice as an appendix. Maintenance of Building/structures referenced throughout Include information who what equipment, document planned maintenance takes buildings place to buildings & landscape infrastructure e.g. repairs/décor, etc.

Litter, Appendices covers issues of waste disposal cleanliness, raised in 2012 assessment vandalism

Environmental Plenty of room for improved Sustainability There is improved information on some sustainability in the new visitor impressive moves towards sustainability, centre. (Water conservation, especially the composting toilet and water energy production, insulation harvesting to top up the pond. etc.). It will be good to see these aspirations described in the new Management Plan

Conservation Useful plans detailing status of SSSI and There is a policy of no of SNCI’s intervention on costal retreat. heritage & Well done. What does this mean for nature Lepe? What is the programme of actions to SSSI to being it all into favourable condition How are environmental improvement methods measured? Could key species monitoring indicate this? Although the HLS plan is likely to be a very large document, perhaps it’s objectives and actions to achieve them could be summarised, either in the plan or even on the web site. Community Articulated throughout plan with range of Update the plan to include Involvement events, school participation and strong friends more recent examples of group. events/tasks. Well done. Ensure the new management Plan explains what consultation and input the Friends group have in formulating the park’s development. Marketing Strategy Excellent range of site leaflets and user friendly website Well done.

Overall Comprehensive including linkages to New Excellent use of volunteers to management Forest as a wider recreational facility. manage the site, and very Excellent use of volunteers to manage the good revenue sourcing and site, and very good revenue sourcing and creation. creation. Well done.

Additional comments .

Field Assessment Feedback Band score – 55 -59

Criteria Strengths Recommendations

A Welcoming Easy to find following signage from A326. Determine a style of Place signage for consistency Appropriate level of interpretation across site.

Ample parking available on date of visit Sign linkages to parts of park on other side of road Kiosk, café and toilets all clean and welcoming Continue to consider equal access through the reserve area, it is so nearly there and it would be great to offer the opportunity to see this interesting site to everyone. Healthy, Safe No issues identified during visit, which weren’t A reduction in the hedge and Secure being repaired or cordoned off following the height for 2/3m either side Spring storms. of the entrance to the reserve from the road would improve the site- lines for people using this exit and enhance the visual connection between the two sides of the site. Clean and Site very clean and maintenance issues were Well Maintained being addressed as identified above.

Quality of construction work (e.g. boardwalk) was very high.

Bird hide in excellent condition

Sustainability Good examples including compost toilet and water harvesting. Level of maintenance and site development was sensitive to the location and local environment

Conservation Good use made of historical features Examples discussed such and Heritage as reinstating/rediscovering the ornamental garden by the classroom need to be included in management plan along with action plan Community Strong and clearly active friends group Keep up the good work Involvement

Marketing Appropriate level of marketing through leaflets available on site.

Café also has freedom to arrange events such as quiz nights.

Management Everyone we met had a clear passion for Lepe. The positive relationship with the community (friends group) is clearly evident and a big plus.

Additional Comments

Well done recovering from the Valentine’s Day storm and for using this event to progress site development of hopeful relocation of buildings to higher land.